Obama approval rating lower than Bush’s at the same point in presidency

posted at 9:21 am on November 6, 2013 by Bruce McQuain

If you recall George W Bush’s 5th year in the presidency, Iraq was still going badly (the surge hadn’t worked yet), the news networks still had a daily count of the dead they featured and we were told that America was tired of war, and especially a war of choice. And then there was Katrina. We were also told that President Bush was suffering horrendous disapproval numbers, numbers so bad that they would be hard to beat in modern history.

When President Obama first ran for the White House in 2008, it was with the promise to turn the page on the presidency of George W. Bush. But for all their political differences, it turns out the American public pretty much view the two men in the same light, according to new polling data.

In the first week of November in the fifth year of their presidencies, Obama and Bush have nearly identical approval numbers, according to the latest Gallup polling.

In fact, Bush comes out one point ahead, 40 percent to 30 percent, respectively.

By comparison, polling for the first week of November in 2005 had Bush’s approval at 40 percent, with 55 percent disapproving of his job performance.

“By the same light” it seems obvious that the majority of the American people disapproved of both presidents at the same point in their presidency. But other than that the disapproval comes via different routes. President Bush was fighting not only an unpopular war, but a negative press and the Democratic party that continually went negative about he and his administration (something they seem to have forgotten since President Obama has taken office).

Obama, on the other hand, has pretty much gotten a free pass on Afghanistan and has had a supportive, almost adoring press that has mostly worked to blunt any criticism of he and his administration, to include any criticism by Republicans.

But despite that, his approval rating is in the toilet. Why? That’s the pregnant question, isn’t it? The answer seems to be “cumulative”. Over the years, as we’ve gotten to know Mr. Obama, we’ve found we don’t like him as much as we thought we might. We find he’s petulant and sometimes petty. We have learned he doesn’t like bad news, doesn’t like to be blamed for anything and when he is he tries to pass the blame off to others.

Or, in other words, we’ve discovered he isn’t much of a leader, not a particularly good politician and seems to have no idea about what he’s doing. We’ve seen our stock in the world plummet, the economy founder and his signature legislation – ObamaCare – is an unpopular disaster.

You’ll remember that the surge eventually worked in Afghanistan and that Bush’s numbers rallied slightly. Frankly I see nothing on the horizon that might do the same for Mr. Obama. Pundits say the government shutdown will hurt Republicans. But that’s been overshadowed by the ACA debacle. The economy continues to underwhelm, there are the NSA and IRS scandals, the Russians, Chinese and many others have absolutely no respect for this country’s leadership and Democrats rightly fear the ACA will sink them in 2014 unless it is fixed and fixed quickly.

Whatever you may say about President Bush, he was a leader. He made the unpopular decision to double down on Iraq and push the surge despite opposition both externally and internally. Mr. Obama shows no such leadership traits whatsoever. His is almost an absentee administration with his supposed “hands off” management style (a euphemism for not doing anything).

There seems to be no reason, given the facts of his “governing style” to expect Mr. Obama’s approval numbers to rally anytime soon if at all.

~McQ

Update (Erika): Fixed the typo in the headline from “disapproval” to “approval,” oops!

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Take the 88% favorability rating from Blacks (racism in its purest form as he has done nothing to improve their status)out of the equation, and he would be at about 29%..and, let’s face it, this spiral has only begun after the MSM decided to return to work after 4.5 year vacation from journalism…

Whatever you may say about President Bush, he was a leader. He made the unpopular decision to double down on Iraq and push the surge despite opposition both externally and internally. Mr. Obama shows no such leadership traits whatsoever.

Far from pointless. It means 0bama will have no popularity with which to boost his designated successor in 2016. It means Team 0bama will have less and less control of what happens with internal Democrat politics. Right now, this doesn’t mean much. But in the future….

Far from pointless. It means 0bama will have no popularity with which to boost his designated successor in 2016. It means Team 0bama will have less and less control of what happens with internal Democrat politics. Right now, this doesn’t mean much. But in the future….

Sekhmet on November 6, 2013 at 9:34 AM

Unless it’s Moo-chelle, I don’t think he gives a flying fig about boosting his designated successor.

So what? This is not good news for Dems. Remember, Bush’s tanking poll numbers helped cost the GOP the House and Senate in 2006. Obama and Obamacare have already done serious damage to the Dems in the House and now they’re at risk of losing the Senate. That would render Obama a lame duck for the remainder of his Presidency.

Whatever you may say about President Bush, he was a leader. He made the unpopular decision to double down on Iraq and push the surge despite opposition both externally and internally. Mr. Obama shows no such leadership traits whatsoever.

HUH? We now have the King Of Doubling-Down in office…

hillsoftx on November 6, 2013 at 9:29 AM

Exactly. But GWB “doubled down” on policies that were unpopular because they went against progressive dogmas, which the “enlightened elite'”, notably in the press, just weren’t about to tolerate.

The One doubles down on his dogmas, which are baseline progressive ones. As such, the elite’ will back him no matter what, on the principle of “Our dogmas are always right, the peasants are too stupid to realize how glorious they- and we- truly are, and the only reason they haven’t worked so far is sabotage by those Evil Rethuglican Teab****r Reactionaries (TM)“.

The final crash hasn’t arrived yet. When it does, it will be epic. Roughly on a par with the downfall of Chamberlain and/or Nixon, and probably including strong elements of both.

The question that seems to escape everyone is, if the MSM and etc. weren’t constantly acting as The One’s drumbeaters, how much worse would his numbers be?

Somehow, I’m reminded of Admiral Broderick in the movie In Harm’s Way.

Today, Obama is at -8.7, which is closing in on his all time low of -10.2. After hovering around -6 for most of August through October, he has been at -8 or worse every day of November.

It is now 106 days since the last time he had a non-daily tracking poll where he was above water. Record for his Presidency is 114. It seems almost certain at this point that that record will fall. Any poll showing him above water at this point would be an extreme outlier.

Once the website allows the populace to transfer wealth from evil Republicans to good Democrats, Obama’s approval rating will go back up.

This electorate is fine with the premise of Obamacare. Wait till the website is fully operational and the electorate starts getting paid.

happytobehere

Are you sure about that?

The premise of Ocare is “someone else will have to pay.”

They’re about to discover an economic truth – “the middle class is where the money is.”

A lot of people who thought they were going to be left alone by all this are going to discover they’re the fattened hog upon which “others” will feast. Deductibles double, you can’t keep all your health care providers & you’re paying MORE????

Exactly. But GWB “doubled down” on policies that were unpopular because they went against progressive dogmas, which the “enlightened elite’”, notably in the press, just weren’t about to tolerate. eon on November 6, 2013 at 9:42 AM

Like letting Ted Kopeckne Kennedy write the education bill, that doubled federal spending for the Department of the NEA?

Obozo will resign before his term is through. The media is about to turn on him and his inner circle hard. The media doesn’t view him as a messiah and never has, they only propped him up as one. The media’s real messiah has always been socialism and obozo’s unpopularity is becoming a threat to that. So in order to protect the ideology they will blame all of the mistakes (that can’t be pinned on the GOP) to obozo and his cronies failings. It’s the only way they will be able to still push their socialist agenda. And when the criticism gets too much, the thin skinned bastard will quit.

Just imagine how low Obama’s rating would be if the MSM actually presented the truth as to what has been going on since he was elected…. 9%.

Cherokee on November 6, 2013 at 9:38 AM

No, if the MSM were honest, we’d be complaining about President Biden today. Fast and Furious, Benghazi, IRS, NSA…. take your pick of the scandal that would have brought the lazy stupid one down with a real media.

0b00baCare will be bailed out, in the form of increased subsidies for enrollees. I read last night a section of the law that allows for tons more money to be poured in if the risk pool is unbalanced or too small.

There’s a lawsuit in OK trying to enforce an aspect of the law that mandates that only enrollees in states with their own exchanges can be federally subsidized. I guess Okenya can issue waivers for that though.

Are you sure about that?
The premise of Ocare is “someone else will have to pay.”
They’re about to discover an economic truth – “the middle class is where the money is.”
A lot of people who thought they were going to be left alone by all this are going to discover they’re the fattened hog upon which “others” will feast. Deductibles double, you can’t keep all your health care providers & you’re paying MORE????
And Obama & Congress & Obama’s union cronies & others are exempt from all this?
And their own people were telling them this would happen three+ years ago?
BD57 on November 6, 2013 at 9:44 AM

All good points. Except “the middle class” (that means “Republicans”) voted for Romney. I’m sure there are a few stories of democrats that are now upset that obamacare costs them money… But there aren’t enough of them to make a significant dent in polling.

Sorry, once the “Free” birth control starts rolling in the electorate will hide under the blanket of the DNC again, feeling all warm and fuzzy… and less racist.

Obozo will resign before his term is through. The media is about to turn on him and his inner circle hard.

Flange on November 6, 2013 at 9:47 AM

Not bloody likely. Not with the Mooch involved. She’s not ready to give up the free lobster, vacations, concerts, and media attention. The media has invested heavily in the lazy stupid one. He is going nowhere.

President Bush was fighting not only an unpopular war, but a negative press and the Democratic party that continually went negative about he and his administration (something they seem to have forgotten since President Obama has taken office).

Obama, on the other hand, has pretty much gotten a free pass on Afghanistan and has had a supportive, almost adoring press that has mostly worked to blunt any criticism of he and his administration, to include any criticism by Republicans.

But despite that, his approval rating is in the toilet. Why?

The other Obama scandals/policies have never hit people directly in the pocketbook the way ObamaCare does. For the people who supported him in 2008 and 2010, they could rationalize away any criticism of the president because they personally weren’t being shot at near the border, were in Benghazi last September, or know of anyone whose been spied on by the NSA or audited by the IRS because of their political beliefs.

That doesn’t hold up once they get their health insurance policy cancelled and find out their new rate is much higher. Now Obama’s hurting them, and suddenly all those things the president was doing that didn’t matter before do now (and sadly, many of those same people who’ve now dropped Obama’s approval rating below 40 percent will be among the first ones to think things will all get better if we elect Hillary in 2016).

Well, it’s ancillary now, but the Katrina coup that the LSM pulled on GW should go down in history.

My understanding is that he was literally begging a hack Governor to allow the Guard to come help – and escalated his appeal for days prior to the disaster. And it was denied purely for political reasons. Somehow, the LSM failed to report this.

They are far more invested in socialism than they are the obozo’s. Michelle’s opinion has no weight on anything. She’s just there so people don’t realize Barry’s gay. She’s not running for anything, unlike Shrillary, Michelle doesn’t even have a sham resume. The media will not let the obozo’s take down their socialist dream. We are quickly reaching a point where the dems are tied completely to too many fiascoes. The only way to extricate the party from these messes is to blame obozo and his pals, many of whom are not well liked, personally. It’s the old “socialism works, we just need better leaders” trick.

Obozo will resign before his term is through. The media is about to turn on him and his inner circle hard. The media doesn’t view him as a messiah and never has, they only propped him up as one. The media’s real messiah has always been socialism and obozo’s unpopularity is becoming a threat to that. So in order to protect the ideology they will blame all of the mistakes (that can’t be pinned on the GOP) to obozo and his cronies failings. It’s the only way they will be able to still push their socialist agenda. And when the criticism gets too much, the thin skinned bastard will quit.

Flange on November 6, 2013 at 9:47 AM

Not bloody likely. Indeed, I predict he won’t even quit on ObamaCare, no matter how big the disaster grows. He will never admit it is a failure; instead, he will claim it needs a bailout, since healthcare is even more important to the nation than the big banks or the auto industry. And his Senate stooge Harry Reid will force through a trillion-dollar-plus bailout, and it will fail in the House (as, logically, it should, since throwing money at failure just reinforces failure), and the MSM chorus will be that the Republicans are to blame for ruining the healthcare system. And some will believe it.

In any event, Obama ain’t quitting. There’s 3 1/2 years more golf to play and more Wagyu beef to eat.

There seems to be no reason, given the facts of his “governing style” to expect Mr. Obama’s approval numbers to rally anytime soon if at all.

~McQ

And? I -know- McQ knows better than this. Obama could give two belches in a whirlwind about his “approval rating.” He won the only poll he cares about in Nov 2012, and got a mandate for his continued destruction of America’s economy and world power. He’s crying all the way to the Bonfire of the American Way of Life.

“Fundamental transformation” was the only campaign pledge he didn’t lie about, and he’s accomplished it with help from the GOP de-elite.

Obozo will resign before his term is through. The media is about to turn on him and his inner circle hard. The media doesn’t view him as a messiah and never has, they only propped him up as one. The media’s real messiah has always been socialism and obozo’s unpopularity is becoming a threat to that. So in order to protect the ideology they will blame all of the mistakes (that can’t be pinned on the GOP) to obozo and his cronies failings. It’s the only way they will be able to still push their socialist agenda. And when the criticism gets too much, the thin skinned bastard will quit.

Flange on November 6, 2013 at 9:47 AM

He only resigns if the Democrats in the Senate turn on him.
Not very likely.

My understanding is that he was literally begging a hack Governor to allow the Guard to come help – and escalated his appeal for days prior to the disaster. And it was denied purely for political reasons. Somehow, the LSM failed to report this.

Tsar of Earth on November 6, 2013 at 10:01 AM

Governor Blanco had to ask for assistance before the feds could move IAW the Stafford Act. Being the idiot that she is, Blanco didn’t want to let a Republican President get any of the credit for helping the people of Louisiana. On this point, I think she was probably ill-advised by equally stupid staff who saw ceding control to the feds as harmful to her political chances.

In the end, Blanco didn’t get her second term. But somehow the media attention at the time of Katrina was all on Michael Brown and FEMA and not Blanco or C. Ray Nagin who spent the days following Katrina cowering on the 23rd floor of the Downtown Hyatt.

Clearly I’m not finding many believers to my theory, but I still maintain the democrat escape plan from all these messes will be to blame obozo and his pals personally in an attempt to save their agenda. They cannot afford to let him drag all of them down and destroy their “progress”. It’s not their first option, but they’re quickly running out of other options. He’s never had to deal with criticism or adversity in his life, he’ll fold real quick if it becomes too much.

Well, it’s ancillary now, but the Katrina coup that the LSM pulled on GW should go down in history.

My understanding is that he was literally begging a hack Governor to allow the Guard to come help – and escalated his appeal for days prior to the disaster. And it was denied purely for political reasons. Somehow, the LSM failed to report this.

Tsar of Earth on November 6, 2013 at 10:01 AM

He also literally begged Ray Nagin to evacuate New Orleans. No go.

Speaking of Schoolbus Ray, his corruption trial was just delayed for 3 months. As the Judge said:

“The defendant is alleged to have conspired with no fewer than six co-conspirators in a conspiracy furthered by no fewer than 59 overt acts,”

I predict he won’t even quit on ObamaCare, no matter how big the disaster grows.

Zumkopf on November 6, 2013 at 10:07 AM

There’s a real showdown coming among the Dems. Delaying the individual mandate is impossible yet that is the only thing that would give those running in 2014 some breathing room. The lazy stupid one is going to double down and declare the whole thing a success.

So what? This is not good news for Dems. Remember, Bush’s tanking poll numbers helped cost the GOP the House and Senate in 2006. Obama and Obamacare have already done serious damage to the Dems in the House and now they’re at risk of losing the Senate. That would render Obama a lame duck for the remainder of his Presidency.

Doughboy on November 6, 2013 at 9:39 AM

Oh, so you mean that he won’t be able to selectively decide which already enacted laws to enforce or not? He won’t be able to arbitrarily change laws that have gone through the legislative process and been voted on by both houses? He won’t be able to sanction actions that defy the constitution? He won’t be able to do things with impunity that, in a sane and healthy Republic, would automatically get him impeached. You mean that his skin will no longer grant him immunity from any form of responsibility for his actions? Suddenly the news media is going to awaken and portray him for what he is? Suddenly the eunuchs of the House are going to start holding him accountable? I say again “So What?”

Oh, so you mean that he won’t be able to selectively decide which already enacted laws to enforce or not? He won’t be able to arbitrarily change laws that have gone through the legislative process and been voted on by both houses? He won’t be able to sanction actions that defy the constitution? He won’t be able to do things with impunity that, in a sane and healthy Republic, would automatically get him impeached. You mean that his skin will no longer grant him immunity from any form of responsibility for his actions? Suddenly the news media is going to awaken and portray him for what he is? Suddenly the eunuchs of the House are going to start holding him accountable? I say again “So What?”

Oldnuke on November 6, 2013 at 10:20 AM

This is pretty much where I am right now. We might win 2-3 Senate seats and 10-20 more House seats in 2014. I don’t see this actually changing anything (other than making me feel good Democrats lost), especially since Boehner and McConnell will still be in charge, combined with the looming 2016 blowout by Hillary.

If he was a white democrat he’d already have been brought to heel. If he were a Republican of any color he’d already have been drawn and quartered. Obama is neither. The race card still holds powerful sway in The Capital. As someone pointed out the other day he could take a crap on the White House lawn in full view of every reporter in Washington and it would be reported that he was wonderfully embracing organic gardening by using natural fertilizer. It’s pathetic and sickening.

Obozo will resign before his term is through. The media is about to turn on him and his inner circle hard.

Flange on November 6, 2013 at 9:47 AM

Not bloody likely. Not with the Mooch involved. She’s not ready to give up the free lobster, vacations, concerts, and media attention. The media has invested heavily in the lazy stupid one. He is going nowhere.

Happy Nomad on November 6, 2013 at 9:52 AM

Agreed, not going to happen. The three old bats, Mooch, ValJar and the Mother-in-Law, will not let him. No doubt he hates the job and is depressed, but the family is hooked on the luxuries and privileges of the office.

And I don’t mean that in the “all Republicans are racist sense.” What I mean is that the big threat for the first black man in the White House is that his Administration will be come to be seen what white Americans expect from anything run by blacks, based partly on experience and partly on racism: it will be inefficient, corrupt, poorly conceived and lazily executed, with most of the emphasis on appearance and little on substance.

It’s that sense that makes nice liberal ladies — who listen to NPR and give money to the Sierra Club — hang up the phone when they’ve called the chair rental place for their daughter’s bas mitzvah and hear a black voice on the other side.

Over the years, as we’ve gotten to know Mr. Obama, we’ve found we don’t like him as much as we thought we might. We find he’s petulant and sometimes petty. We have learned he doesn’t like bad news, doesn’t like to be blamed for anything and when he is he tries to pass the blame off to others.

Over the years my a$$. You may have taken years to come to this conclusion Mr. McQuain, but I had this oil salesman pegged from day 1.

Those who wanted to be a part of history and not wanting to be called racists, are looking over their shoulders at others and learning that it’s OK, go ahead, it’s OK to criticize him, even if he is half black. Go ahead, it’s OK.

…the big threat for the first black man in the White House is that his Administration will be come to be seen what white Americans expect from anything run by blacks, based partly on experience and partly on racism: it will be inefficient, corrupt, poorly conceived and lazily executed, with most of the emphasis on appearance and little on substance.

bobs1196 on November 6, 2013 at 10:59 AM

If you removed the race factor, his approval rating would probably be in the 20s.

The Rogue Tomato on November 6, 2013 at 10:35 AM

The race card still holds powerful sway in The Capital.

Oldnuke on November 6, 2013 at 10:29 AM

The race card is played out in presidential politics. Barry’s Presidency will “survive.” And then there won’t be another one like it for generations.

…the big threat for the first black man in the White House is that his Administration will be come to be seen what white Americans expect from anything run by blacks, based partly on experience and partly on racism: it will be inefficient, corrupt, poorly conceived and lazily executed, with most of the emphasis on appearance and little on substance….

bobs1196 on November 6, 2013 at 10:59 AM

This stereotype does a great dis-service to the many capable, honest, hard-working black Americans, and there are many whites (especially in this administration) to whom it also applies, but the observation will stick.

If that were the case Barry would be facing impeachment charges. Especially if the Rs keep the house and take the senate. He won’t face those charges and it’s totally due to his skin color, nothing else.

At this point, what difference does it make? Too little, too late. We have his law of the land and millions will suffer for it. Our Titanic has sunk beneath the water line and we will eventually go the way of other great countries.

There comes a point in time where the approval ratings should become an automatic removal from office. “We The People” should have the ability to cast a “NO Confidence” vote for the recall of any official.

President Clinton had an approval rating nearly 15 points higher when he was impeached.
President Nixon had an approval rating nearly 12 points higher when he gave his “I’m not a crook” speech.

Correction: “We The People” do not get to vote for or against the leader of our country. We can not be trusted with such a task.

Where is the leader that will stand up to be measured. A leader that will have the fortitude to lead us from this disaster of our making. I’m tired of reading the endless postings of problems and criticisms, both real and perceived as well as misguided beliefs of injustice. Yet there is not one, no not one single person that will stand up with the personal convictions and fortitude of a 16 year old Pakistan school girl.

This I say to all of “We The People” is our shame to bear and our shame to correct.

Let me add something. By todays political standards I would not qualify for any public office for the following reasons.

1. I have been married to the same woman for 47 years.
2. I have never had sexual relations out side of marriage.
3. I have never done drugs.
4. I enlisted in the Army at the start of Viet Nam.
5. I retired from the Army at the end of the first Gulf War.
6. I believe in telling the truth.
7. I believe in the Constitution.

But despite that, his approval rating is in the toilet. Why? That’s the pregnant question, isn’t it?

Deeply ironic, of course.

If we’re going to have a comparison, though, note that Bush suffered low approval numbers after years of a highly negative press that refused to admit any good news on the economy, blamed Bush for a natural disaster, kept a persistent and incessant search for any scandals they could tag him with, and gave credence to ridiculous liars like Valerie Plame and her shameless husband.

Obama has the media covering up for him when he screws up, pretending this flat economy is actually strong, overlooking the many scandals of his administration, and not even paying attention when he allows a U.S. Ambassador in Tripoli to be killed by terrorists without lifting a finger, only to blame it all on a YouTube video.

All of which means one thing: even the media covering for you can only do so much.